Alabama, Texas fans flood Pasadena for BCS

KABC

Alabama takes on Texas for the BCS title. Both teams are undefeated, and both teams are known for their diehard fans.

January 7, 2010 12:26:17 AM PST

By Amy Powell

PASADENA, Calif. --

It's a matchup more than 25 years in the making: Alabama takes on Texas for the BCS title on Thursday. Both teams are undefeated this season, and they haven't met since 1982.What makes this battle even more epic is that both schools are known for their football programs, as well as their diehard fans.

The parking lots at the Rose Bowl opened at 6 a.m. Thursday. Fans are advised to arrive early to get a good parking spot.

While game time is at 5 p.m., there's plenty to do before. There's a big tailgate party that starts at 9 a.m.

Thousands of fans of both teams have rolled into Southern California and are camped out in the Pasadena area. Just outside the Rose Bowl, crowds showed their team spirit in decked-out RVs.

Alabama has never beaten Texas, but Crimson Tide fans said they're not concerned with the past.

"We're ready to roll, we're looking for beat-down No. 2 like that Florida game. We're going to bring it this afternoon, this could be really ugly," said Country Joe, an Alabama fan.

Longhorn fan Tim Lucas, wearing a wig and face paint, said he is using his vacation time from work to attend the game in Pasadena.

"I don't mind sacrificing for this game," Lucas said.

The game pits All-American quarterback Colt McCoy of Texas against the player who beat him for the Heisman Trophy, running back Mark Ingram of Alabama.

Texas coach Mack Brown used a Wednesday news conference to continue a theme he's been building on all month - that the two best teams are meeting at the Rose Bowl and a true national champion will come out of the game.

It was a legitimate debate five weeks ago when the BCS pairings came out and there were five undefeated teams - Alabama, Texas, Cincinnati, TCU and Boise State. Since then, Cincinnati got blown out 51-24 by Florida in the Sugar Bowl and TCU lost 17-10 to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. It leaves the Broncos as the only team with an argument - one they undoubtedly won't win.

Alabama (13-0) comes into the game as a four-point favorite, in part because the Tide was so much more impressive than Texas in its last game.

"We drove 34 hours to get here ? this is a big moment for us," said Alabama fan Stephen Crosby.